DL School Board selects firm to design future Fine Arts Center

It wasn’t an easy decision, according to Devils Lake Schools Superintendent Scott Privratsky, all of the candidates vying for the job were excellent candidates.

It wasn’t an easy decision, according to Devils Lake Schools Superintendent Scott Privratsky, all of the candidates vying for the job were excellent candidates. But he and the Devils Lake School Board narrowed it down to one firm at Monday’s regular meeting of the school board.

“We had 11 excellent proposals at the start and narrowed that down to the final four. All four gave excellent presentations but you have to go with your gut. It is our perception that Zerr Berg out of Fargo will be the best fit for us,” Privratsky said.

It is a step in the right direction as the school begins to go forward with a plan to provide the students and the community with a fine arts center including performance space for music and theater arts.

“Zerr Berg understands our process,” Privratsky added. It may take two years or more to see the fundraising and community support built for this endeavor.

In the meantime no public funds are being used for the initial stages. Private donations were set aside for the preliminary planning and design work, according to the superintendent.

In other action taken at the school board meeting, June 11 was set at the election date for the school board election. One position is up for re-election, that of board president Kory Boehmer. Anyone wishing to file to run for that position may pick up the forms at the superintendent’s office in the Sports Center.

One of the main items on the discussion agenda for the meeting was the renovations planned for Minnie H Elementary School. The work is planned for this summer and will include asbestos removal, ceiling, lighting and flooring much like the renovations done at Sweetwater Elementary School. Work is slated to be completed before the 2013-14 school year begins. It will be Prairie View’s turn the following year.

At each meeting of the school board a different presentation has been given to familiarize the board with the many programs within the district that serve students, faculty and staff at Monday’s meeting the board was treated to a presentation by Mike DeFoe on technology.